TY - JOUR
T1 - Transfusing blood safely and appropriately
AU - Murphy, Michael F G
AU - Waters, Jonathan H
AU - Wood, Erica Michelle
AU - Yazer, Mark H
PY - 2013
Y1 - 2013
N2 - Blood transfusion is an essential part of modern healthcare and can be life saving when used appropriately. Blood services
worldwide strive to provide a safe supply and work with hospitals to ensure that blood products are readily available for
patients. Blood components such as red cells, platelets, fresh frozen plasma, cryoprecipitate, and granulocytes are prepared from whole blood donations or collected by apheresis. Plasma
derivatives such as coagulation factor concentrates, immunoglobulins, and albumin are prepared from large pools
of plasma under drug manufacturing conditions. The process of getting a unit of blood from a donor to a patient is complex. Many steps are taken to ensure that the transfusion is as safe as possible. Although serious complications of blood
transfusion are uncommon, patients should be transfused using evidence based guidelines. This will minimise any adverse effects and ensure that blood products, which are donated by volunteers and are costly and sometimes in short supply, are used appropriately. Every effort should be made to reduce or eliminate the need for transfusion by considering alternative approaches to patient management. Patients should be in clinical need of transfusion and should understand why transfusion is
being recommended. The aim of this review is to describe best practices for the safety of patients receiving blood transfusions, including ways to
reduce unnecessary transfusions.
AB - Blood transfusion is an essential part of modern healthcare and can be life saving when used appropriately. Blood services
worldwide strive to provide a safe supply and work with hospitals to ensure that blood products are readily available for
patients. Blood components such as red cells, platelets, fresh frozen plasma, cryoprecipitate, and granulocytes are prepared from whole blood donations or collected by apheresis. Plasma
derivatives such as coagulation factor concentrates, immunoglobulins, and albumin are prepared from large pools
of plasma under drug manufacturing conditions. The process of getting a unit of blood from a donor to a patient is complex. Many steps are taken to ensure that the transfusion is as safe as possible. Although serious complications of blood
transfusion are uncommon, patients should be transfused using evidence based guidelines. This will minimise any adverse effects and ensure that blood products, which are donated by volunteers and are costly and sometimes in short supply, are used appropriately. Every effort should be made to reduce or eliminate the need for transfusion by considering alternative approaches to patient management. Patients should be in clinical need of transfusion and should understand why transfusion is
being recommended. The aim of this review is to describe best practices for the safety of patients receiving blood transfusions, including ways to
reduce unnecessary transfusions.
UR - http://www.bmj.com/content/347/bmj.f4303.pdf%2Bhtml
U2 - 10.1136/bmj.f4303
DO - 10.1136/bmj.f4303
M3 - Article
VL - 347
SP - 1
EP - 12
JO - The BMJ
JF - The BMJ
SN - 0959-535X
IS - 7917 (Art # f4303)
ER -